Now attending the #ESHG2020 session on neuropsychiatry. As an #ActuallyAutistic person, this was very insightful. The research presented was also interesting, but what I gained most insight in was how autism is viewed and talked about. And it needs to change. (1/n)
Autism is still seen as a disease. While there are definitely impairments, in some people more than others, these are often impairments that can be improved by talking TO the autistic person in question about their individual needs. (2/n)
Some autistic people have bigger impairments, which are often due to intellectual disability. Again, communicate WITH the autistic person to facilitate them. Good to realize that some autistic people are non-verbal, but there are alternatives to verbal communication. (3/n)
What is often used as an introduction to present about autism, is this summary of the DSM criteria for diagnosis: "autism is a disorder characterized by social communication deficits, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or activities". (4/n)
The DSM is a diagnostic tool, and not all autistic people show all the diagnostic criteria. Hence, these two points are not characteristic of autism. What is characteristic of autism however, are sensory problems, most notably sensory overload. (5/n)
This interview explains it better than I ever could on Twitter: newscientist.com/article/mg2453…
Another problem with picking these two points from the DSM, is that these only describe what OTHER people see. They do not say anything about what autistic people experience. Please talk to autistic people once in a while. #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs
